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Comment and Humans

Embracing flat Earth science denialism can help us overcome it

Our positive experiences with flat Earthers show how we can combat science denialism by embracing it, not spurning it, say David Westmoreland and Connor McCormick

By David Westmoreland and Connor Mccormick

8 January 2020

91av. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Josie Ford

THERE are about 3 million people in the US who believe our planet is flat. Buoyed by social media and increased publicity due to the Netflix documentary Behind the Curve, their numbers are growing. You should meet them. If you do, they are likely to ask: “How confident are you that the Earth is round? How do you know?” What would you say?

We have a better idea than most. For the past year, we have met regularly with our local flat-Earth group. We gather in a cafe around a flat table, marked by a sign of yellow Lego bricks…

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